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No. 6|4,40I. Patented Nov. l5, |898. P. J. LONERGAN.

ORE REDUCING AND SEPARATING MECHANISM.

(Application filed Oct. 8, 1897.) (No Model.)

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No. 614,4ol. Patented Nov. l5, |398. P. .1. -LoNEnGAN- ORE REDUCING AND SEPABATING MECHANISM.

(Application filed Oct. 8, 1897.) (No Model.)l 2 Sheets-Sheet 2.

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UNTTED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

PHILIP J. LONERGAN, OF COLORADO SPRINGS, COLORADO, ASSIGN OR TO FRED HILLS AND JAMES F. BURNS, OF VICTOR, COLORADO, AND MARY P. ADAMS, OF SAN JOS, CALIFORNIA.

ORE REDUCI-NG AND SEPARATING M'ECHANISM.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 614,401, dated November 15, 1898.

Application led October 8, 1897. Serial No. 654,541. (No model.)

To all whom, t may concern:

Be it known that I, PHILIP J. LONERGAN, residing at Colorado Springs, in the county of El Paso and State of Colorado,'have invented a new and Improved Ore Reducing and Separating Mechanism, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to an improvement in paneprocess amalgamator means, in the nature of a pan-arrastre adapted to take the ore direct from the rock-breaker; and primarily this invention has for its purpose to provide a machine of this character capable of working at its maximum energy, which will keep the pulp thoroughly under control and in contact with the shoes until it is reduced to the proper ineness and then automatically separate and discharge same into a slime receiver or gutter.

This invention also comprehends the construction of a machine of this kind having its center or dead area eliminated, whereby the diameter of the pan is increased and an enlarged annular way having a superficial area produced, whereby to create a working channel for the pulp and shoes of an enormous capacity, adapted to give mechanical motion to the pulp over the whole area by a direct action thereon, and whereby a longer detention of the pulp is obtained for the purpose of settling and carrying the same to a iinal point of discharge.

Vith other objects in view, which will hereinafter be set out, the invention consists in av machine for the purposes stated embodying the novel details of construction and peculiar combination of parts first described in detail and then specifically pointed out in the'appended claims, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, in which- Figure 1 is a plan viewof my improvement, parts of the frame being in section. Fig. 2 is a vertical section of the same, taken on the line 2 2 of Fig. 1. Fig. 3 is a side elevation of the same.

Before describing the constructionv of this invention in detail it should be stated the same differentiates from the ordinary forms of ore crushing and pulverizing machines having rotary crusher or mulling devices operating under a high speed in that the construction of my machine is such as to admit of a Very slow motion when under an enormous energy and in which the pulp is carried forward over the entire grinding area by direct action, in contradistinction to the centrifugal force, as the mullers of shoes are so arranged as to always work on the coarsest material, displacing all that they cannot get under them, while the Water continuously raises the fines as soon as made from the shoes and iioating and dividing them over to the discharges.

Referring now to the accompanying drawings, in which like numerals indicate like parts in all the figures, 1 indicates the main frame, which consists of the vertical rims 1, the annular base portion 28, resting on a suitable foundation of masonry 1b, (indicated in dotted lines in Fig. 2,) and the cross-head or top truss-frame 1c.

The pan 4, which in its practical construction is of a considerable diameter-for example, twenty-two feet-is supported on the spider-arms 21, resting on the foundation 1b. This pan differs from the pans such as are used in machines having high-speed grinding open a considerable distance-for example, twelve feet across-the pan proper being inthe nature of an annular Way-for example, five feet Wide-having its inner wall held six feet,

Vdevices in that its central or dead portion is more or less, away from its center, whereby s' about one foot thick, and has its inner wall 5n made vertical and its outer wall 5b slightly tapering, as shown. Suchwall, however, may roo be also vertical. The stone blocks 6 are snugly and evenly laid on a layer of sand 6X, covering the steel bottom of the pan, which forms a cushion and serves to take up undue vibration as the mullers move over the blocks 6.

7 indicates a vertical shaft disposed centrally of the pan, having a lower step-bearing 7 itting the rim of spider-frame, its upper end havinga bearing in a cap-plate S, secured to the cross-member lc of the main frame.

The inner wall of the pan is suitably braced bya spider-frame 9, the hub of which fits the shaft 7. Upon the frame 9 is mounted an annular grooved trackway 10, in which ride roller-hearings 11, which also seat in an annular bearing 12, held pendent from the muller-frame 13, which consists of the radial arms 13, projecting over and beyond the outer edge of the pan. 4

14 indicates cap-plates having collars 14E, which encircle the drive-shaft and which join the inner ends of the arms 13a.

15 indicates collar-bearings adjustably secured to the shaft, which form the central support for the muller-frame, which is loosely mounted on the shaft 7.

W'hen arranged to be driven by animal power the muller-frame has a large drive- Wheel 16 for the drive rope or cable, it being, however, obvious that such wheel may be geared with the shaft and the shaft driven by any suitable mechanical power.

1S indicates the shoes, which are also of stone (in practice weighing eight hundred to nine hundred pounds each) and which have a top rim 18, provided at one end with eyes or loops 19, to which the ends of a flexible yoke-drag are connected and the upper ends of which are secured to strong pendent arms or loops 22 on the radial arms of the mullerframe. Any suitable number of these shoes may be provided, but I prefer in practice to employ three shoes to travel along the outside of the working channel near the seat of the pan--three shoes to travel in the center and two shoes to travel on the inside of such channel near the inside wall of the pan. arrangement of shoes serves to carry the pulp directly forward and provide for the grinding-surface practically that of the full width of the working channel, and also serving t0 wear the bed evenly. Thus by providing a clearlydeined channel and arranging the drag-shoes as described the pulp will at all times be thoroughly controlled and kept in contact with the shoes and bed and the entire body thereof subjected to a continuous grinding action.

By making the inner wall of the channelway vertical any pulp which might be forced thereagainst will be deflected back againinto the `path of the shoe, such arrangement of parts producing a mechanical action working at all times at its maximum energy, as at no time is any part of the pulp held so it This cannot be engaged by either the inner or outer set of shoes.

The outer wall of the working channel has a series of screened outlets 25 disposed at aline above the grinding-face of the bed, which discharge into the ways 26, leading to the slimegutter 27, `mounted ou the base-frame 28, encircling the pan, as clearly shown in Fig. 1. This gutter has at the side a series of discharge-nozzles 29, arranged with vertical tiers, so as to drain off the gutter at different heightsor entirely when desired.

30 indicates the agitators operating in the slime-gutter, which are secured on the arms 31, hung pendent from the outer radial arms on the muller-frame.

One of the advantages of this invention over the ordinary forms of ore grinding and separating machines is that the pulp is constantly kept in contact with the shoes and ground until it is reduced to a certain fineness, when the finerparticles will rise to the point above the bed and discharge automat ically through the screen portions of the outer wall 5 of the channel into the slime-gutter, thereby admitting of the steady feeding of new charges (batches) of pulp to the pan with; out retarding the movement of the machine.

By making the slime-gutter of a considerable depth and providing a series of discharges at different heights a longer detention of the pulp is obtained for the purpose of settling the same and carrying it to its final point of discharge, thereby doing away with Quicksilver for amalgamation of free-gold ores.

If it is desired to use Quicksilver, the slime gutter can be employed to carry the heavy charges of the same, and, if desired, amalgamated plates (not shown) can be hung upon the sides of the channel, so that the slimes can come in contact with them as frequently as may be desired by operator and for such length of time as may be found necessary before their nal discharge.

The concentrates can be drawn off at the discharge 29 at any time they have accumulated sufficient to make it an object.

By supporting the stone blocks 6 on a layer of sand they will be cushioned and the vibration made by the passage of the shoes on the bed overcome thereby, such sand also serving to collect any of the tine or flour gold which passes down between the cracks of the blocks 6. whereby the pulp is continuously carried forward and held under control as it is being reduced a dressing-Wave is produced which pre# cedes the shoes and which will serve to wash out the center in the cracks of the stone bed and leave a free resting-place for the fine or flour gold.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, isl 1. The hereinbefore described improvements in ore grinding and separating means,

Furthermore7 by providing means ICO in combination; a supporting-base and a vertically-extending frame having a cross-head a series of radial supporting-arms resting on the base and an annular working chamber held on the supporting-arms having a grindin g-bed and a series of screened outlets in its outer wall above the bed; a series of horizontal radial arms bracing the inner walls of the annular chamber and having center bearing; the centrally-disposed muller-frame shaft, having its lower and upper ends journaled respectively on the base supporting arms and the cross-head the radial arms 13, keyed to the said shaft,said arms having pendent roller-bearings engaging a runway supported on the horizontal radiating brace-arms; the muller or drags connected to the arms 13a; the slime-gutter adapted to receive the screendischarges and the stirrers held pendent from the muller-frame, all being arranged substantially as shown and described.

2. As an improvement in ore grinding and separating machines; a suitable supportingbase; a slime-gutter surrounding such base at a plane below the top thereof; an annular Workingchamber mounted on the base, its outer wall having screened outlets discharging into the slime-gutter, and having its grinding-bed at a plane below such screened outlets; a horizontally-disposed runway fiXedly supported between the inner walls of the working chamber; a cross-head support; a muller-frame having its operating-shaft disposed centrally of the annular working chamber and journaled at the top in the crosshead and at the bottom in the base-support, said muller-frame including radial arms projected over the outer edges of the working chamber; stirrers pendent from the outer ends of such radial arms and working on the slime-gutter, said muller-frame also having a bearing portion engaging the runway; and the shoes or drags connected to the mnllerframe arms and arranged substantially as shown and for the purposes described.

PHILIP J. LONERGAN.

Witnesses:

J. A. JAMIEsoN, J. W. DAvrDsoN. 

